Scientific name: Hesperia comma

Easily distinguished from other skippers by the numerous silvery spots on the underside of the hindwings.

A small butterfly with a low darting flight, restricted to chalk downland in southern England. Upperwings orange with brown margins and pale orange spots. Males have thick black line through centre of forewing. Underings have silver spots.

This rare skipper is restricted to chalk downs in southern England where it can be seen darting low over short turf, stopping frequently to bask on bare ground or feed on flowers such as Dwarf Thistle. It can be distinguished by the numerous silver-white spots on the undersides of the hind wings, which can be seen quite easily when it rests with wings in a characteristic 'half-open' posture.

The Silver-spotted Skipper has declined rapidly over the last 50 years but has re-expanded partially since 1980.

Size and Family

Family – Skippers

Small Sized

Wing Span Range (male to female) - 30-36mm

Conservation status

UK BAP status: Not listed (formerly Priority)

Butterfly Conservation: Medium

European status: Not threatened

Protected in Great Britain for sale only

Caterpillar Foodplant

Sheep’s-fescue (Festuca ovina) is the sole foodplant and the butterfly breeds only where this grows as small tufts in short or broken turf.

Distribution

Countries – England.

Found on the chalk of southern England, including the North and South Downs, the Chilterns, Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.